Window shade



A. A. BOECK WINDOW SHADE March 1 1932.

Filed Aug. 23. 1928 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 ALFRED A. BOECK, OF BERLIN, GERMANY WINDOW SHADE I Application filed August 23, 1928. Serial No. 301,603;

This invention relates to improvements in window shades, particularly of a type comprising a plurality of shutter portions adjustably and foldably joined together and having means connected with'one of the shutters for giving angular adjustment to the'other shut-.

terssimultaneously, also means for raising the shade by bringing the shutters into folded relationship. y

An object of this invention is to provide a blind or shutter consisting primarily of an upper and lower member, shutter elements arranged therebetween, flexible means for operably holding the members and shutters together, and means extending from one of the shutter elements for giving angular adj ustment to the shutters; also, means for raising the shade by bringing the shutters and the lower member into folded relationship. I

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description of the 7 device and asdisclosed in the single sheet of drawings herewith "made a part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a front elevational view of a window shade in assembled relationship with a supporting frame, showing the shutters open and the shade in lowered position.

' Figure 2' represents a portion of a front elevational view of the window shade disclosed in Figure 1, showing the shade in partly raised position.

Figure 3 represents a cross sectional view of the window shade in assembled relationship w ith the frame supporting member, and disclosing the means for giving angular 4o movement to the shutters and means for raising and lowering the shade.

Figure 4 represents a view-of Figure 3, disclosing the shutter members in angular adjustment to each other and in partly raised 4 position.

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional View of Figure 3 taken along line 55.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective View of a portion of the supporting and operative means for giving angular movement to the shutters and raising theshade.

Figure 7 represents a perspective view of the shutters arranged in rolled osition.

' Figure Sis a perspective of the operating bar and integrally associated parts.

This invention provides a window shade device in which numeral 1 designates the top frame member, which may be made of wood or any other material, and loosely supported from 'aportion of the building or window frame by means of hooks 2, or otherwise.

A plurality of shutter members 3, made of any suitable material, isadapted to be adjustably and foldably connected to the frame member 1 and a lower frame member 4 by means of flexible elements 5, comprising tape or other like material, and fastened in some suitable manner to the adjacent edges of the shutter members 3.

The upper ends of the tape 5 may be securely fastened to the frame member 1 in any suitable manner, such as by means of a band or clamping member 6, securely fastened to the frame 1 by means of screws 7, 15 I and having the tape or web members 5 securely clamped and fastened between the plates 6 and the frame member 1, as clearly disclosed in Figure 6. The lower ends of the tape members 5 may be securely fastened to the frame element 4 by means of screws 8 or otherwise.

Securely attached to the opposite and free edges of the shutter members 3 are auxiliary tape or web elements 9, arranged to allow for angular adjustment of the shutters. It

is preferred in this invention to arrange the shutters 3 at regular spaced intervals, the top shutter 10 being positioned to receive in attached relationship thereto a plurality of inwardly extending lever elements 11, which are adapted to be securely fastened to an operating arm lever 12, pivotally mounted in bracket portions 13, which are securely fastened by some suitable means to the frame member 1.

The operating bar 12 is provided with an arm extension 14, adapted to loosely receive at the end thereof a cable or cord element 15, by means of which the lever arm may be operated, thereby functioning to move the upper shutter 10 and the remaining shutters 3 simultaneously.

It is preferred in this invention to raise and lower the shade by means of a system of cables or cords 16, one end of which, as at 17 is securely attached to the frame member 1, the other end 18 being free to pass slidably through a ring member 19, which is loosely held in attached relationship to the frame member 1 by means of a screw 20, or otherwise. The cable or cord 16 is adapted to pass around the bottom frame 4 of the shade and extend through the ring 19 in such a manner that when the cord 16 is pulled the shade will rise in approximately a rolled condition, as clearly disclosed in Figure 7, it being understood that a sufficient number of cables or cords 16 may be utilized in order to efficiently raise and lower the shade.

The shutter members 3 may be made of any desirable material commonly used for the purpose described, such as slats which are adapted to be held in operative relationship with the webbing or tape members 5 and 9, by means of strips of cloth 21 and 22, or other material, upon which the slat members 3 are positioned, the ends of the strips 21 and 22 being turned downward and sewed or fastened as may be desired to the tape members 5 and 9, as clearly disclosed in Figure 3.

From the above description it is apparent that the tape members 9 are so arranged that the upper ends will be fastened adjacent one edge of the upper slat, while the lower ends will be fastened adjacent one edge of the lower slat or shutter, the remaining shutter members being attached to the tape 9 at regular intervals between the upper and lower shutters.

From the arrangement of the shutters 3, in relationship to the tape members 5, it is clear that when the upper shutter 10 is approximately at right angles to the tape 5, and held in that position by means of the arm 14 and the tension cord 15, the remaining shutter portions will also be in the same relative position along the tape 5, and when it is de sired to vary the angular relationship of the shutters to the tape 5, the tension on the cord 15 may be released in the manner clearlyv disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, and the shutters may be allowed to close to any desired angularity and held in that position by the cord 15 through the bar 12.

This invention provides a window shade or blind constructed of a plurality of narrow slats or shutters, one of the prime objects being that the shutters are horizontally adj ustable and that the shade may be rolled up out of the way or to any desired positions. The slats or shutter portions may be joined together with screws, tape or webbing, as may be considered most desirable, and are so arranged that by means of a horizontal bar and lever connections with the top slat, the shutters can be adjusted to various angles by merely operating the cord attached to the lever and taking advantage of the laws of gravity in allowing the shutters to drop a desired distance.

By adjusting the shade with the slats at w an upward slant, the light may be admitted and still the room screened from view. The shade is easily rolled up by means of two or more cords passed down the front of the shade and around the lowest horizontal piece and up the outside of the shade to the top where the cords may pass through rings attached to the upper horizontal frame. By placing tension on the cords, the shade will roll up and by releasing the tension the shade will lower by means of gravity.

The blinds in common use, of the Venetian type, do not roll up satisfactorily, but the slats fold one upon the other, wherein this invention-provides a shade in whichthe slats are arranged to roll up on the raising of the blind. The slats or shutters in this invention are placed at regular intervals between two sets of tapes or bands, which are joined together by cross bands adapted to hold the slats therebetween. The band at the back of the shade is attached to the upper horizontal piece or frame, while the band at the .front of the shade is fastened at the topmost slat, thus making it possible to adjust the slats or shutters to different angles.

The bar combined with the lever for adjusting the position of the slats may be attached by means of hinges to the frame, or in any other desirable manner. By pulling the cord attached to the lever the top slat may be set at any desired angle, and, obviously, because of the connecting tapes the slats below will fall into a corresponding position.

It will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made in the form of embodiment of the invention within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. j

What I claim is 4 1. A shade comprising an upper and lower member, shutter elements arranged therebetween, flexible means for operably holding the members and shutters together means for rotating the lower member to fold the shutters upwardly, and lever means secured to the upper shutter element and pivoted on the upper member for adjusting the shutter elements with respect to each other.

2. A shade comprising a stationary upper member, flexible members suspended in loops from said upper member, a lower member supported in and secured toxthe bottoms of said loops, a plurality of shutters disposed between said upper and lower members, within and secured to said loops, alever pivoted on the upper member and secured to the upper shutter, and a flexible member secured to the upper member extending under the lower member for simultaneously raising and rolling said lower member to fold said shutters as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

' ALFRED A. BOECK.. 

